Modern Mine Sweepers, Tenders, Countermeasures

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
This thread is about Modern Minesweepers, Mine Sweeper Tendrers, and Mine Countermeasure vessels.

I will start with among the best Countermine vessels/Tenders built today, The Japanese Uraga Class.
The Uraga class MST are very impressive vessels. The JMSDF has two of them, the Uraga MST-463, and the Bungo, MST-464.

Bumgo-MST464-05.jpg
They are as big as most destroyers, displacing in at almost 6,000 tons. They are armed with a 76mm gun, two Phalanx CIWS, and all of the implements necessary for counter mine warfare.

They are designed to act as the flagship for a flotilla of minesweepers providing logistics and for the other minesweepers. They are able to refuel, provide food, water and other supplies, as well as carry various mission-related equipment that are inconvenient to have aboard the smaller ships permanently. These vessels also have extensive medical facilities, having even a decompression chamber for divers.

From a Mine Countermeasures task force standpoint, the vessels also are equipeed with the command and communication facilities to allow them to be the flagships of mine warfare fleets. One of these vessels can command and logistically support a fleet of 12-15 minesweepers.

Uraga-MST463-04.jpg
Their helideck and hanger were designed to be large enough, and strong enough specifically for the MH-53E Sea Dragon mine countermeasures helicopters that the JMSDF operates.

Bumgo-MST464-03.jpg
In addition to the support, tender, and Command and Control functions, these vessels are capable of performing all of the mine countermeasures missions themselves. Using specialized mine hunting sonar and unmanned underwater
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, the two ships locate, classify, and destroy mines..

They are also designed to cut cables on moored mines and generate sound signals and magnetic fields that detonate bottom mines. They can also embark an EOD team used the that dive on, identify, defuse and destroy or remove mines from the water.

Bumgo-MST464-02.jpg
As I say, they are very capable counter mine vessels, and among the best in the world.

Please post more information about these or other such vessels, from whatever nation (non-Chinese) , their pictures, videos, specifications, and history here on this thread.
 
Last edited:

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Bumgo-MST464-01.jpg
Naval Today said:
Two Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, “JS BUNGO” and “JS YAEYAMA” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill and supply visit on 13th October 2014.
They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on arrival.

The head of the mission, Commander Minesweeper Division 51, Captain Keiji Yoshida and Ships’ Commanding Officers, Commander Takuya Sanada and Commander Kiyose Omatsu paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo. They held cordial discussions and exchanged mementos as a gesture of goodwill.

“JS BUNGO” (shown in the picture above) is a Minesweeper tender commanded by Commander Takuya Sanada. It has a length of 141 meters, displacement of 5700 tons and can carry 160 naval personnel onboard.

“JS YAEYAMA” is a Minehunter/sweeper commanded by Commander Kiyose Omatsu. It is 67 meters in length, has a displacement of 1000 tons and can carry 60 naval personnel onboard.
 

SamuraiBlue

Captain
Well the JMSDF originated as a mine sweeping force during the Korean war. Former IJN sailors were recruited to do this hazardous job to maintain the sea lanes to ensure safe passage for US ships to and from the Korean peninsula.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The Chinese Type 081/A Class Countermine Warfare vessels

In 2007 the Chinese Navy (PLAN) commissioned the first of a new class of Countermine Warfare vessels, the Type 081 minesweepers.

That first vessels was the Zhangjiagang, pennant number 805.

Since that time, they have commissioned a total of ten of these vessels.

The first four were the Type 081 MCMW class and they, at 1,000 tons, at the time were the largest minesweeping vessels in the PLAN inventory. However, those four have since been followed by six of the newer, larger, Type 081A MCMW class, which displace 1,200 tons.

The first in class of the Type 081A was the Xiaoyi, pennant number 841.

Here are all ten:

Type 081 Class
805 Zhangjiagang Commissioned 2007
810 Jingjiang Commissioned 2007
839 Liuyang Commissioned 2008
840 Luxi Commissioned 2008

Type 081A Class
841 Xiaoyi Commissioned 2012
842 Taishan Commissioned 2012
843 Changshu Commissioned 2013
844 Heshan Commissioned 2013
845 Qingzhou Commissioned 2014
846 Yucheng Commissioned 2014


Type-081-01.jpg
Type 081 MCMW Zhangjiagang 805

Type-081-02.jpg
Type 081 MCMW Zhangjiagang 805

Type-081A-01.jpg
Type 081A MCMW Xiaoyi 841

Type-081A-02.jpg
Type 081A MCMW Qingzhou 845

Type-081A-03.jpg
Type 081A MCMW Yucheng 846
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!



Göteborg-Sweden-Hosts-SNMCMG1-1024x683.jpg

Naval Today said:
On Friday, May 1, the seven ships of Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1), under the command of Dutch Navy Commander Peter A.J. Bergen Henegouwen, arrived in the port of Göteborg for a routine port visit.

The flagship of SNMCMG1 is FGS DONAU, an ELBE-class German tender. The mine hunters assigned include BNS LOBELIA (Belgium), HMS QUORN (UK), and FGS AUERBACH (Germany), HNLMS WILLEMSTAD (Netherlands), ORP MEWA (Poland), and HNOMS RAUMA (Norway).

Commander Bergen Henegouwen took command of the Group from the Lithuanian Navy on January 22 during a port visit to Den Helder, The Netherlands.

The Group continues to play an integral role as it deploys in support of sustained assurance measures following completion of this port visit.

These are good exercises, and they give the MCM vessels and capabilities a real boost.

The German Elbe class will be the focus of my next Class post on this thread.

Versatile ships.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
German Type 404 Elbe Class Tender/Replenishment vessels

The German Elbe Class Tender is a versatile logistical support and replenishment ship built by the German Navy.

Six vessels were built and their full load displacement is something on the order of 4,000 tons. The six vessels include:

A511 Elbe Commissioned January 28, 1993 based in Warnemünde
A512 Mosel Commissioned July 1, 1993 based in Kiel
A513 Rhein Commissioned September 1, 1993 based in Kiel
A514 Werra Commissioned December 9, 1993 based in Kiel
A515 Main Commissioned June 10, 1994 based in Eckernförde
A516 Donau Commissioned November 15, 1994 based in Warnemünde

The vessels can operate either as general purpose replenishment ships, but more importantly were designed to be modular so as to be specifically outfitted and configured for specific replenishment and tender purposes.

Specifically, the vessels can operate as tenders and replenishment vessels for Fast Attack Craft, Frigates, Submarines, and/or Counter Mine Measures.

To allow for this, these ships carry fuel, fresh water, food, ammunition and other matériel for their specific assignment/configuration. They have a medical station aboard. The also manage waste disposal for the ships they support at sea and can carry out minor repairs of assigned ships.

Extensive communication gear and accommodations enable them to serve as squadron flagship, particularly in the Mine Countermeasure, or Mine Sweeping role.

Most of the time there are three vessels (those in Kiel) assigned to support Counter Mine Measures (half of the fleet). Elbe is typically tasked with FAC support, Main is tasked as a submarine tender, and Donau as replenishment vessel for Germany's frigates.

The ships are each 330 feet long, have a beam of 50ft, and a draft of 13 feet.

They cruise at 15 knots and have a range of over 2,500 miles at that speed. Typically they have a crew of 40 plus almost 40 more for their specific duties and or squadron staff.

The vessels are armed with two MLG-27 27mm auto cannons, and two Fliegerfaust missile stands for MANPADS anti-air missiles.

There is no hanger, but the vessels do have a heli-pad for helicopters up to the size of a Sea King.


Rhein-513.jpg
Elbe Class, Rhein, 513

Elbe-511.jpg
Elbe Class, Elbe, 511

Donau-516.jpg
Elbe Class, Donau, 516

27mm-autocannon.jpg
MLG-27 27mm auto cannon
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The Uraga class MST are very impressive vessels. The JMSDF has two of them, the Uraga MST-463, an this one, the Bungo, MST-464.
They are as big as most destroyers, displacing in at almost 6,000 tons. They are armed with a 76mm gun, two Phalanx CIWS, and all of the implements necessary for counter mine warfare.

They are designed to act as the flagship for a flotilla of minesweepers providing logistics and for the other minesweepers. They are able to refuel, provide food, water and other supplies, as well as carry various mission-related equipment that are inconvenient to have aboard the smaller ships permanently. These vessels also have extensive medical facilities, having even a decompression chamber for divers.

From a Mine Countermeasures task force standpoint, the vessels also are equipeed with the command and communication facilities to allow them to be the flagships of mine warfare fleets. One of these vessels can command and logistically support a fleet of 12-15 minesweepers.

Their helideck and hanger were designed to be large enough, and strong enough specifically for the MH-53E Sea Dragon mine countermeasures helicopters that the JMSDF operates.

In addition to the support, tender, and Command and Control functions, these vessels are capable of performing all of the mine countermeasures missions themselves. Using specialized mine hunting sonar and unmanned underwater
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, the two ships locate, classify, and destroy mines..

They are also designed to cut cables on moored mines and generate sound signals and magnetic fields that detonate bottom mines. They can also embark an EOD team used the that dive on, identify, defuse and destroy or remove mines from the water.

As I say, they are very capable counter mine vessels...probably among the best in the world.

Can be used as ML also in Flottes de Combat classified ML can carry 300 + mines ! presumably the more big ML in the world whis is a very rare type of ship.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 
a recent article describing how the Singaporeans go about it:
A mine-blowing experience
source:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


(describes for example
K-STER Expendable Mine Disposal System (EMDS)

This remotely operated vehicle replaces its predecessor, the Mine Disposal Vehicle. The K-STER EMDS consists of two variants: the K-STER I and K-STER C. Equipped with a camera for live video streaming and a sonar, the K-STER I is mainly used to take a closer look at a mine-like object before a decision is made whether to blow it up. In this case, the K-STER C will be activated.
1429603806906.jpg

used on their
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
A new minelayer class, Nampo, South korea which have yet Wonsan do 3300 t.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has unveiled the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN's) second indigenously manufactured minelayer with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, an HHI spokesperson told IHS Jane's on 28 May.
The vessel, RoKS Nampo (570), was unveiled in Ulsan on 27 May in a ceremony presided over by South Korean vice defence minister Lee Young-geol, the shipbuilder said.
Nampo has been built according to the Future Frigate Experimental (FFX) design under the MLS-II programme, which called for a mine warfare vessel with reduced radar cross-section (RCS) features. The vessel can accommodate a crew of 120 and one medium-sized helicopter in its hangar.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , Nampo is armed with four vertical launching system (VLS) cells that can deploy Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSMs) for defence against air threats. The vessel is also equipped with a Hyundai-Wia 76 mm main gun and six 324 mm torpedo tubes for submarine prosecution.

Nampo can reach a top speed of 23 kt and has a standard range of 4,500 n miles at 13 kt.
The 114 m vessel has a beam of 17.2 m, a draught of 4.61 m, and displaces 4,200 tonnes at full load.

Nampo is currently scheduled for delivery to the RoKN by October 2016 and scheduled for commissioning around April 2017.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Cor Sud Nampo.jpg

Planned 4/5, If have 16 ESSM the more powerful minelayer never build !
 
Last edited:

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Yes...this is the second in class...though 18 years apart!

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!



ROKN MLS-570 Nampo.jpg
MLS-II-570 Nampo

Marine Link said:
Shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched the second minelayer, MLS-II Nampo, for the Korean Navy.

In attendance at the MLS-II launching ceremony were Baek Seung-joo, Vice Minister of National Defense of Republic of Korea; Kwon Oh-gap, President & CEO of HHI; and 100 other guests.

The MLS-II Nampo is both HHI and Korea’s second minelayer following MLS-560 Wonsan that was delivered in 1997 and are currently in operation. The MLS-II Nampo which can carry 120 crew measures 114 meters in length, 17 meters in width and 28 meters in depth with a displacement of 3,000 tons.

The next-generation stealth minelayer is specially built to lay a large number of mines precisely at the designated spots in a short period of time. The MLS-II Nampo is scheduled to be delivered to the Korean Navy by October 2016 after outfitting work, sea trials and final inspections.

HHI said it has been playing a key role in strengthening the defense capabilities of the Korean Navy by delivering a total of 71 naval ships including 12 frigates/patrol ships, three destroyers, three submarines and two Aegis destroyers.

Here's the first one:


ROKN MLS-560 Wonsan.jpg
MLS-560 Wonsan
 
Top